Iranian parliament approves to cease implementing additional protocol

Iran's Majlis (parliament) has approved a bill pressing the government to cease implementing the Additional Protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

The Majlis' National Security and Foreign Policy Commission approved general outlines of the bill on Sunday, which binds the government to suspend the implementation of the additional protocol until "Tehran succeeds in obtaining recognition of its right to complete the nuclear fuel cycle," the report said.

Iran signed the additional protocol in December 2003, which allows the UN nuclear watchdog to take snap inspections of its nuclear facilities. The Majlis has not ratified the treaty so far.

After Iran resumed uranium conversion activities in August, the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a EU-sponsored resolution in September, urging Iran to suspend all activities related to uranium enrichment and ratify the additional protocol.

Tehran rejected the resolution and threatened to "cancel all its voluntary and temporary concessions, including the implementation of the additional protocol."

On Sept. 28, the Majlis approved a motion to start discussion on ceasing the implementation of the additional protocol, kicking off the legislative process to materialize the threat.

If passed by the Majlis, the bill will be sent to the country's legislation supervisory body, the Guardian Council, for a final approval.

Iran has been consistently rejecting the EU's call to give up efforts to build a nuclear fuel cycle.

Source: Xinhua